Cultural Creatives

**Forget the small talk. Let’s make something real.** Most networking events feel like a chore. **Connection Lab** is the antidote. This isn't about swapping business cards; it’s about swapping perspectives, sketches, and stories in a curated, small-group setting. For this edition, we’re blending **artistic play** with **structured connection games**. Whether you’re a seasoned artist or haven't picked up a brush since grade school, you’ll find your flow here. ### **🖌️ The Experience** We keep the group limited to **10 people** to ensure the afternoon remains intentional and intimate. * **Low-Pressure Art:** Choose between ready-to-paint sketches (using graphite transfer paper) or a blank canvas. No "talent" required—we provide the tools to make it easy. * **Structured Connection:** We skip the "What do you do for work?" and move straight to curated games designed to spark genuine conversation. * **The Vibe:** Thoughtful, relaxed, and creative. ### **📋 What’s Included** * **All Materials:** Paint, brushes, canvas, and transfer paper. * **Guided Interaction:** Facilitated games to break the ice (without the cringe). * **Your Masterpiece:** You’ll leave with a finished piece of art and at least one meaningful new connection. ### **🎟️ Registration & Pricing** Registration through eventbrite is must for this event https://www.eventbrite.com/e/the-creative-social-tickets-1984353364330 We keep the cost low to keep the community accessible. * **Ticket:** $10 (covers all materials) No Refund unless event is cancelled * **Note on Commitment:** Because we prepare specific materials for each of the 10 guests, please only register if you are 100% committed to attending. **Ready for a different kind of Saturday?** Space is strictly limited to 10. Grab your spot soon.

Hi everyone, we will be having our first Artists who create meetup group at the food court (Near the A & W) of Erin Mills Town Centre, and we look forward to seeing everyone who can make it this coming Saturday, March 7th at 5 pm. This will be a very casual and fun moment to create, connect and engage in conversation as we work on our own art projects. I also look to have a theme for this session to ignite our creativity and give us something to go off of if we're starting from scratch. The theme is Life, and the powerful thing it can be to be alive despite all the uncertainty and struggles we might face. I will be providing some art materials for those who need them, but of course, it's highly encouraged to bring your own. Here is the full address of the mall: [5100 Erin Mills Pkwy, Mississauga ON L5M 4Z5](https://www.bing.com/ck/a?!&&p=5d311852eda8388a98752d9e60a559294e636187efdb6acdad7ff1b4b53e5c93JmltdHM9MTc3MjMyMzIwMA&ptn=3&ver=2&hsh=4&fclid=15c0c239-89a7-69ee-04c2-d4b288666820&u=a1L21hcHM_Jm1lcGk9MH5-RW1iZWRkZWR-QWRkcmVzc19MaW5rJnR5PTE4JnE9RXJpbiUyME1pbGxzJTIwVG93biUyMENlbnRyZSZzcz15cGlkLllORERFRDhERjc4MTg0OUMxOSZwcG9pcz00My41NTg2NTA5NzA0NTg5ODRfLTc5LjcxMTU3ODM2OTE0MDYyX0VyaW4lMjBNaWxscyUyMFRvd24lMjBDZW50cmVfWU5EREVEOERGNzgxODQ5QzE5fiZjcD00My41NTg2NTF-LTc5LjcxMTU3OCZ2PTImc1Y9MSZGT1JNPU1QU1JQTA)

Hobbyists, new writers, published authors, and those aiming at publication are called to gather in friendship and love to create and share work, help each other improve with well-meaning, constructive feedback, and build a Christian community of male writers. Members may read up to 2,000 words from a piece of fiction or non-fiction. Those reading work must print copies sufficient for the number of members who RSVP. All those members attending must RSVP. Though never required, members are encouraged to provide written feedback on their handout of the piece and take a turn giving a verbal “hot take” after the reader has finished reading their work aloud. I encourage members to approach writing as we do our faith: strength in numbers. Though writing is often solitary, we take and give support in a fellowship setting and in time invite two or three men in the fellowship to be our special allies in achieving our own individual artistic goals. Beta readers, is another name for these chosen few. These men will work with you reciprocally outside of the group, reading longer drafts of your work than can be read in group sessions. You will support them as they do you. I'll moderate and host the group once a month for starters, and we will hope to grow to a weekly fellowship.

한국어는 아래를 참조하세요! A warm welcome to CanAsian Station’s In-Person English x Korean Meetup! A weekly event where we invite you to enjoy sharing language and culture with each other. * Beginners are welcome, what’s important is you’re willing to learn! * Short on ideas? Fear not! We provide new topics each week ,also doubling as study material! Our participation fee is **$5 per event**. All fees are to be E-transferred to canasianstation@gmail.com We also accept payment in cash, but please be advised that E-Transfers are preferred. Looking very forward to meeting and sharing with you all! 😊 Location: Go to the food court downstairs. CanAsian Station의 대면 영어 x 한국어 만남에 오신 것을 환영합니다! 매주 열리는 행사로, 여러분이 서로의 언어와 문화를 나누며 즐길 수 있는 자리를 마련합니다. 초보자도 환영합니다! 중요한 것은 배우고자 하는 마음입니다. 아이디어가 부족하다면 걱정 마세요! 매주 새로운 주제를 제공하며, 그 주제들은 학습 자료로도 활용됩니다! 참가비는 **행사당 5달러**입니다. 모든 요금은 canasianstation@gmail.com으로 E-Transfer를 통해 송금해주세요. 현금 결제도 가능합니다만, E-Transfer를 선호합니다. 여러분과 만나고, 함께 나누게 될 것을 기대하고 환영합니다!😊 장소: 지하에 있는 푸드 코트로 와주시길 바랍니다

Come join us at the lovely, well-lit, and cozy Theatre Centre Cafe for an hour and a half of silent writing (on whatever writing projects you will)! After silent writing is done, feel free to stay and chat or go as you please. If you are late you are welcome to join us (quietly and not disruptively). Please note this is a casual event, and we will NOT be critiquing each other’s work. **Other Important Details:** WiFi name/password: #TheTheatreCentre (no password, open access) Travel / Parking info: There is paid street parking as well as Green P underground parking located at 45 Abell St (2 mins walk from the venue) . Venue Guidelines: Please thank our hosts by purchasing something.

Practice your Spanish and Italian language skills in a fun and social setting at our Language Exchange Night! Join us for an evening of engaging conversations, cultural exchange, and new friendships. Whether you're a native speaker or just starting out, all language enthusiasts are welcome to participate in our interactive activities designed to improve communication skills and broaden cultural knowledge. Bring your enthusiasm and curiosity to our friendly community of language learners, and let's explore the beauty of Spanish and Italian together. Don't miss this opportunity to connect with like-minded individuals and expand your language horizons at our Language Exchange Night event!

\*These classes are not a language exchange, but instead are meant to be a step in between so that students feel confident maintaining in depth and grammatically correct oral conversations outside of class\* \***Meetup event numbers only tend to show new students registering and do not include returning students attending class.** **Per class, there is an average of 7 students.** The first 2 classes are free and then only cost between $18 and $36 depending on which type of class you want to continue with\* These French, English (For Spanish and French speakers only), and Spanish classes are primarily meant for adults who are travellers, or who are planning to live in a French, English, or Spanish-speaking country. The classes are primarily oral-based through guided conversations. They will teach you how to handle conversations in situations such as **"Going to the Convenience Store"**, **"Making Plans"**, **"Negotiating Prices"**, and **"Going out for a Drink"**. To ensure that students get used to using the language automatically, students will learn to maintain contextual conversations with timing before moving on to the next lesson. Call (647)787-9953, e-mail us info@monkeylingo.ca, or visit monkeylingo.ca for more information! **Online and private classes are also available!** No other language classes are as conversational as these ones. We guarantee it! Cheap parking can be found using the "Spot Hero" app.

Each year we try and find something special/somewhere to celebrate **International Women's Day!** *Sunday March 8th, 2026. A concert. Indigenous artists!* **Ticket link is below** with promo code pricing. We've seen these outstanding performers before at various venues in/around Toronto--but never on the Koerner Hall stage. With 50% off tickets. (Thank you Royal Conservatory of Music) **Koerner Hall celebrates International Women’s Day with a mosaic of Indigenous and diverse women’s voices**, hosted by Tamara Podemski and curated by Denise Bolduc. All of these artists are getting great attention on CBC/Radio. **Tia Wood’s powerful, soulful voice** carries the spirit of her peoples’ songs that have echoed from her homelands since time immemorial, and the musical roots of her family tree run deep. Growing up in a home rich with music and culture, she began singing as soon as she could talk, inspired and nurtured by her parents, siblings, and her dual Plains Cree and Coast Salish heritage. She was nominated for her first Juno Award in 2025 for her debut EP, Pretty Red Bird. She is one of the first Indigenous female artists signed to Sony Music. A Citizen of the Métis Nation of Ontario whose Red River roots run deep, interwoven with Anishinaabe relatives from Lac Seul and mixed settler relations, **Amanda Rheaume** has grown to be a chronicler of stories and people whose acts - out of necessity and opportunity alike - cascade through time and space, from the 18th century Red River Settlement to her own doorstep. In her gutsy guitar-driven style, punctuated with lively Métis fiddle, Rheaume’s heartland rock is built to last, resolute in rhythm and unswerving in purpose. **She is joined by Métis fiddler Alyssa Delbaere-Sawchuk.** **Shawnee Kish's powerful soul voice is why hearing her is a one-of-a-kind experience. The Mohawk singer-songwriter from Canada was a 2022 Juno nominee for Contemporary Indigenous Artist of the Year**, tied to her acclaimed self-titled debut EP. In 2023, she released her highly anticipated follow-up EP, Revolution, which landed her another two Juno nominations in Adult Alternative Album of the Year, and Contemporary Indigenous Artist of the Year.*Revolution*features her powerhouse vocals and introspective songwriting, as well as songwriting and production collaborations with industry luminaries, including Arkells frontman Max Kerman, Serena Ryder, Sara Quin of Tegan & Sara, and Dan Wilson (Adele, Taylor Swift). **Tamara Podemski** is an Anishinaabe (First Nations) and Ashkenazi (Jewish) multi-disciplinary performer whose work has spanned over three decades on stage and screen. She is best known for her acting roles in *Dance Me Outside*, The Rez (*CBC*), *Ready or Not (Global)*, *Reservation Dogs* (*FX)*, and the Broadway company of *RENT*. **Ticket link here:** https://www.rcmusic.com/events-and-performances/international-women-s-day-celebration Enter this promo code for 50% off ticket price: **INTLWMN50 (type it in manually--not copy/paste)** Any seats in Orchestra or First Balcony is a perfect seat. Encourage you--Bring a Friend!

\*These classes are not a language exchange, but instead are meant to be a step in between so that students feel confident maintaining in depth and grammatically correct oral conversations outside of class\* \***Meetup event numbers only tend to show new students registering and do not include returning students attending class.** **Per class, there is an average of 7 students.** The first 2 classes are free and then only cost between $15 and $45 depending on which type of class you want to continue with\* These French, English (for Spanish and French speakers only), and Spanish classes are primarily meant for adults who are travellers, or who are planning to live in a French, English, or Spanish-speaking country. The classes are primarily oral-based through guided conversations. They will teach you how to handle conversations in situations such as **"Going to the Convenience Store"**, **"Making Plans"**, **"Negotiating Prices"**, and **"Going out for a Drink"**. To ensure that students get used to using the language automatically, students will learn to maintain contextual conversations with timing before moving on to the next lesson. **Program is also offered in private and online classes**. Call (647)787-9953, e-mail us info@monkeylingo.ca, or visit monkeylingo.ca for more information! **Online and private classes are also available!** No other language classes are as oral as these ones. We guarantee it! Group classes are hosted at **600 Bay Street** every Sunday, Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday. Call (647)904-5285 upon arrival if no one is there to let you in, and someone will come down to let you in. Cheap parking can be found using the "Spot Hero" app.

Join us for **Good People**, a gripping and heartfelt drama about survival, second chances, and the divide between the haves and have-nots. ***You can use our promo code to purchase discount tickets for any performance.*** **THE PLAY:** It’s been a rough road for Margie, a single mother living in South Boston. Having just been fired from her job at The Dollar Store, Margie scrambles to find a way for her and her daughter to survive. She decides to contact Mike, an old fling from her high school days, who has become a successful doctor, in the hopes that he (or someone he knows) might have a job for her. As they reconnect, secrets and sacrifices are revealed. Pulitzer Prize winning playwright, David Lindsay-Abaire, has created a “masterpiece of contemporary theatre” that explores the themes of class, morality and resilience. In our world, where the rift between the haves and have-nots grows ever wider, Good People is bound to resonate with today’s audiences. *Recommended for age 14 and up. Some mature language and themes.* \*\*\* **PRICE** **Discount Tickets:** $24 (includes all fees) *** **HOW TO PURCHASE** Sign up on this event page and use the promo code **THUMBSUP** to get your discount tickets. Use the code to purchase your tickets **[online](https://app.arts-people.com/index.php?ticketing=tscar&rd=1)** or call the box office at (416) 267-9292. ***You do not have to attend with our group. You may use our promo code THUMBSUP to purchase discount tickets for any performance.*** **Seating Arrangements:** Seating is reserved so members may not be able to sit together. However, we will get together before, during and after the show. Belinda will be seated in C-B26. *** **DETAILS** **When:** Saturday, March 7, 2026 **Time:** Show starts at 8 p.m. Meet Belinda at 7:30 p.m. at the theatre. **Where:** Scarborough Village Theatre, 3600 Kingston Road, Scarborough **Runtime:** About 2 hours, 15 minutes with intermission *** **MEETUP ARRANGEMENTS** Meet Belinda at 7:30 p.m. in the theatre lobby beside the box office. Belinda will is very short and will be wearing a pink Los Gatos baseball cap and pink eyeglass frames. Cell # (416) 879-7575 for use on day/time of performance only. **Intermission & After-Show Meetup Spots:** Meet Belinda beside the box office in the same place as you met her before the show. **\*\*\*** **[THUMBS UP CELLPHONE POLICY:](https://www.meetup.com/Thumbs-Up-Theatre-Toronto/events/243426512/)** Cellphones must be turned off, or kept in silent or flight mode (no sound and no vibration), and MUST NOT be pulled out or used under any circumstances during shows.

🦋🏛️ DANFORTH WALK, BUTTERFLY MURAL & GREEK LUNCH🏛️🦋 Street Culture, Public Art & A Proper Greek Feast There’s something about the Danforth that feels like old-school Toronto in the best possible way — vibrant, layered, proudly local, and full of stories. Join us for a social walk along one of the city’s most iconic stretches: **Danforth Avenue**. As we stroll west toward downtown, we’ll pass lively patios, long-standing family restaurants, cozy cafés, independent shops, and the everyday rhythm of a neighbourhood that has shaped Toronto’s cultural identity for generations. This area is famously home to the annual **Taste of the Danforth**, one of the largest street festivals in the city — and historically, it was once home to the largest Greek community outside of Greece. You feel that history in the bakeries, the signage, the music drifting from open doors. It’s not just a walk. It’s a little slice of Toronto heritage — experienced together. 👉 **Don’t forget to join our WhatsApp group** – [CLICK HERE!](https://chat.whatsapp.com/H59mSCbsAi018gYANrKAnc?mode=ac_t) *** 🦋 The Butterfly Mural Stop Along the way, we’ll stop at the Butterfly Mural, sponsored by the **David Suzuki Foundation** as part of The Great Canadian Butterflyway Project. It’s bold, colourful, and rooted in environmental awareness — a reminder that even in the middle of the city, we are connected to something larger. We’ll pause, take photos, chat, and enjoy a little moment of art-meets-nature in urban Toronto. *** 🏛️ Greek Lunch at a Danforth Institution After our walk, we’ll sit down for lunch at the historic **Astoria Shish Kebob House**, one of the most well-known Greek restaurants in the city. Expect: 🥙 Classic souvlaki 🍋 Lemon potatoes 🥗 Fresh Greek salad 🍷 Big, generous comfort food energy Menu: Click Here! Nothing bonds people like sharing a table and passing the tzatziki. 😉 *** 🚶‍♂️ What to Expect We’ll walk at a relaxed, social pace — stopping to observe, chat, and enjoy the neighbourhood. The route will take us toward Danforth & Chester. You’re welcome to leave at any time. *** ❄️ Weather & Commitment Please don’t sign up if you’re not ready to walk in real winter conditions. This event happens rain, snow, or classic Toronto wind. The only exception: if temperatures reach -20°C, the event will be canceled. Bundle up — this one is for the walkers. 💪❄️ *** 🧢 Meetup Details 📍 Meetup Location: Outside the station (exact station noted in event listing) 🫎 I’ll be wearing my Moose Hat ⏰ Meetup Time: 11:00 AM ❗ I will only wait 5 minutes Please arrive on time so we can begin together. End Location: Danforth & Chester *** 💰 Meetup Fee 🎟️ **Meetup Fee:** $5 cash in person **or** e-transfer to 📧 \*\*[mathewmaclean@hotmail.com**](http://mathewmaclean@hotmail.com%2A%2A/) This fee helps support the group and allows us to keep hosting events like this. Thank you for supporting community! 💖 *** 🎒 What to Bring * Water * Good winter boots * Gloves & hat * Something warm to drink * A small snack (optional) Layers are your best friend. *** 🌈 Who Is This For? This group is open to anyone who wants to be social and make friends — whether you’re single or not. We also host: 🎬 Movies 🚶 Walks & hikes 🎭 Arts & culture 🍽️ Restaurant outings …and lots of welcoming, low-pressure community gatherings. You’re always welcome. *** REMEMBER: You can just show up on the day if you’re unsure about your schedule. And as always, sometimes life happens and plans may need to shift — please keep an eye out for updates. *** 👤 Organizer: Mathew Questions? Post on the event wall or email 📧 torontomoviesandoutings@hotmail.com Come for the culture. Stay for the conversation. Leave full — in more ways than one. The Danforth has heart. Let’s go feel it together. 🦋🏛️✨

**Confidence in Bloom: How Creativity Builds Confidence** What happens when creativity becomes an intentional practice? In this month’s Confidence Lab, we’ll gather at **Petals That Inspire: The Flourish Studio** for an evening exploring the connection between creativity and confidence. How making with our hands, engaging our senses, and allowing space for expression can shift how we see ourselves and what we believe is possible. Our featured speaker, **Amanda Lorenzetti**, owner of Petals That Inspire, will share how creativity has shaped her own confidence journey and why creative environments play such a powerful role in well-being, resilience, and personal growth. Drawing from her work leading an experience-driven floral studio and a community-centered workforce development program, Amanda will reflect on creativity as both a personal and collective catalyst. Amanda will also guide us through a **hands-on floral design experience**, creating a fresh arrangement in a wide mouth mason jar. No prior floral experience is needed, just curiosity and a willingness to engage the process. This evening is an invitation to slow down, create, and reconnect with the part of yourself that grows through care, attention, and imagination. You’ll leave with a floral arrangement to take home, and a deeper understanding of how confidence can be cultivated through creative practices. **Featured Speaker: Amanda Lorenzetti** Amanda Lorenzetti is the owner and founder of [Petals That Inspire](https://www.petalsthatinspire.com/) and The Flourish Studio, a social enterprise florist based in Columbus, Ohio. She brings more than a decade of experience in wedding and event sales, paired with hands-on expertise in floral and event design. Amanda’s connection to the floral industry began early, spending time alongside her godmother, a professional florist on the East Coast. After earning her business degree, she returned to her hometown in Connecticut to work as a floral and event designer, blending creative artistry with strong operational and client-focused skills. In 2020, Amanda returned to the floral industry with a renewed purpose, driven by a desire to build a business rooted in creativity, community impact, and sustainability. During this pivotal time, she founded Petals That Inspire—an innovative floral concept that reimagines the traditional florist model by combining event florals, workshops, and experiential offerings with a mission-centered approach to workforce development. Today, Petals That Inspire is a thriving social enterprise known for its thoughtful design, educational experiences, and commitment to empowering young adults facing barriers to entry in the workforce. Amanda is deeply passionate about building businesses that are both profitable and purpose-driven, and she leverages her strong business acumen to create a scalable & sustainable model that inspires creativity while giving back to the community. **What is Confidence Lab?** Confidence Lab is a monthly community experience for bold, thoughtful leaders building confidence from the inside out. Whether you’re launching a business, leading a team, navigating change, or simply striving to show up more fully—you belong here. Our work demands clarity, courage, and conviction—but the pace of daily life can erode our sense of self. Confidence Lab creates space to reflect, reconnect, and grow with others doing purpose-driven work. It’s designed for entrepreneurs, nonprofit leaders, creatives, corporate professionals, activists, and anyone ready to lead with authenticity and impact. ***Please note:*** *All are welcome! If cost is a concern, please use promo code PUBLIC to access a free ticket—we want you to join us.*

Inspired by our successful events like "Saturday Mornings @ East Market" and other "Pot Luck in the Park" lunches, this gathering promises to be a blend of fun conversations, language exchange, and cultural insights, all while sharing wonderful foods with each other. Please bring a dish to share and anything you would like to drink. We will provide plates, plastic silverware and napkins. So, come hungry and ready to chat!

NFT's are here to stay folks! This is a group for like minded people interested in understanding, leveraging, using, creating for, profiting from, trading too i suppose, NFT's.. everything around them, complexity, fear and exploits, best practices and more. **PLUS** This group will talk AI ART tools, techniques, artists, video, audio, prototypes and more in the AI assisted production space- ART specifically, but we can get into any aspect of some of the cooler things happening in AI in general.

Let's grab some coffee/food and share a morning chat! The East Market has an ample parking lot and outdoor and indoor seating. Grab a cup of coffee from Winston's Coffee & Waffles or on your way to East Market and meet us on the second floor - table behind or east of the elevator. Per what this group is about: "Everyone is welcome! International transplants to Columbus who want to improve language skills, Columbus residents who want to discuss international travel and culture, and anyone who enjoys getting together for good conversations."

The topic for March is "Our Bodies, Ourselves" Speak Easy: true stories, told live. The idea is simple: an audience, an open microphone, and great stories. Hilarious, gripping, poignant- it's up to you. Audiences are invited to come to listen or come to tell as folks from all corners of Columbus offer their stories live on stage! Held at Wild Goose Creative's warm, intimate space, this night of tales occurs on the 3rd Thursday of every month. Doors open at 6:30 pm, show starts at 7:00 pm. Please arrive early if you want to tell, as we generally only have room for a limited number of tellers, and the sign-up sheet has a tendency to fill up fast. Formed around the idea that people need stories--they're what hold and draw us together--SpeakEasy celebrates the strangeness and commonness of being human. And in a world of smartphones, Facebook, Twitter, and more . . . it gives people a real, breathing, in-person way to connect. The night is geared for true stories of all kinds, taking the best tales told around kitchen tables, in darkened pubs, on the street corner, and at late-night parties and giving them an audience. Speak Easy is also a great outlet for performers, writers, and artists looking to share their favorite stories and perfect their skills. We strongly encourage tellers to please tell the story rather than read it so we keep within the spirit of good storytelling and stay engaged with the audience. All are welcome. Hang around after the show for a drink and build community!

Let’s meet, wander the exhibits and open galleries, and enjoy an evening out in the Franklinton Arts District. (Nearby pay parking is available in the garage on McDowell, right around the corner from One Line Coffee, and, past it along the curb as McDowell dead ends.)